Apparatus and method for handling liquids



April 1952 L. c. SACKETT ET AL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING LIQUIDS 3 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1945 April 1952 c. SACKETT ET AL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 W M 22 m /22 i 4% J Z 2 22 M a H722 Z .2 77 W W B.

April 1952 L. c SACKETT ET AL 2,592,520

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 8, 1952 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING LIQUIDS Loren Clifford Sackett, Highland Park, John R.

Miller, Royal Oak, and Reuben W. Kelto, Highland Park, Mich., assignors to ChryslerCorporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,516

12 Claims. 1

This application relates to a method and apparatus for increasing the pressure of a body of liquid. More specifically it involves the use of such pressure increase for elfeoting injection of a liquid fuel in an engine.

The injection of a measured quantity of fuel in an engine poses many problems, for the apparatus normally required therefor is very costly and difficult to make and adds considerable weight and bulk to the engine. We have designed a fuel injection system that'largely overcomes these difiiculties.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved fuel injection apparatus for an engine. With this apparatus a large number of expensive and difiicult to manufacture moving parts are eliminated.

A further object relates to the provision of an improved means for increasing the pressure of a body of liquid. More particularly the pressure increase in the liquid may be employed for effecting a discharge of the liquid. In this way injection of fuel in an engine may be carried out.

Another object is to provide improvements in a fuel injection system involving the discharge of liquid fuel into an engine or an air intake such as a manifold by means of an electrical discharge in the fuel and the coordination of the electrical discharge with the normal spark discharge within the engine for ignition of the fuel. In the typical ignition system for a multi-cylinder engine a plurality of spark plugs are operated through a distributor. The fuel injection apparatus of the present invention includes a plue rality of sparking devices that may be operated from the same source of electric power as the spark plugs and through the distributor in properly coordinated relation to the spark plug.

A still further object is to provide a fuel improver, in combination with a fuel injector for an engine. With the present invention fuel injeotion is accomplished by an electrical discharge in the fuel, which serves to improve the fuel.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through an engine showing the novel fuel injection apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through a portion of the injection apparatus and includes the electrical circuit connected therewith; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of parts of the fuel injection apparatus and includes a showing of the electrical system connected therewith.

As seen in Fig. 1 the engine includes a cylinder block H] in which is formed a cylinder H. The piston I2 is slidably mounted in the cylinder A spark plug 13 extends through one side of the cylinder wall. Passages I4 and I5 are formed in the block for circulation of a cooling fluid. A head I6 is suitably attached to the block H1 and has passages l1, l8, I9, and 2|] formed therein for circulation of the cooling fluid. An air intake passage 2| is formed in the head I6, and an air intake manifold 22 is attached to the head with the passage 23 formed therein communicating with the passage 2| in the head. An exhaust passage 24 is formed in the head I6, and an exhaust manifold 25 is attached to the head with a passage 26 therein in communication with the passage 24. At the top of the cylinder H a seat 21 is formed, which is engaged by an inlet valve 28 opening and closing the air intake passage 2|. .The inlet valve 28 is slidable in a sleeve 29 suitably mounted in the head It. A coil spring 30 acting between a recess formed in the top of the head l6 and a collar 3| on the valve 28 acts to maintain the valve against the seat 21. The end of the valve 28 is engaged by a cam 32 secured to a shaft 33. A seat 33a, is formed in the end of the exhaust passage 24 adjacent the end of the cylinder II. An exhaust valve 34 engages the seat and is slidable in a sleeve 35 suitably mounted in the head It. A coil spring 36 acting between a recess formed in the head Hi and a collar 31 attached to the valve 34 urges the valve 34 against the seat 33. The end of the stem of the valve 34 is engaged by a cam 38 secured to a shaft 39.

An injection nozzle 40 is threaded through the wall of the cylinder Hi. This nozzle includes a sleeve 4| and a valve 43 having a head 44 engaging the inner end of the sleeve 4| and a stem portion 45. I The outer end of the sleeve 4| is enlarged as indicated at 46, and the bore at this portion is enlarged as indicated at 41. A coil spring'48 is held on the valve 43 by means of a pair of nuts 49, the coil spring acting between the nuts and a shoulder 5|] formed in the bore in the nozzle sleeve 4|. A flange 52 on the sleeve 4| limits the inward adjustment of the sleeve in the cylinder wall by engaging the cylinder wall. The sleeve 4| may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly of the cylinder I because of the extended threaded portion 42 formed on the sleeve. A threaded extension 53 on the nozzle sleeve 4| connects the nozzle sleeve with a fibre block 54. A through passage 55 is formed in the block 54. A side passage 56 is also formed in the block and intersects the through passage 55 at a central region thereof, the side passage 56 being in communication with the enlarged portion 41 of the nozzle sleeve bore. As will contribute toward the provision of a free discharge passage for block 54. a smooth bore fitting 56' may be threaded straight into the upper end of the through passage 55 and receive the flared end of a tube 51. A fitting 58' clamps the flared end of the tube 51 in the fitting 56. The tube 51 leads, as may be observed, directly and unobstructed to a fuel tank 58. A fitting 59 is threaded in the lower end of the through passage 55 and the flared end of a tube 68 is clamped in the fitting 59 by a fitting 6|. The tube 60 extends to the discharge side of a pump 62. A tube 63 extends from the fuel supply tank 59 to the intake side of the pump 62.

As seen in Fig. 2 a compound electrode 63 is mounted in the fibre block 54. The compound electrode comprises a sleeve 64 and a rod 65 contained therein. The rod 65 and sleeve 64 project into the intersection of the through passage 55 and the side passage 56, which intersection is spherically formed, the rod 65 projecting slightly farther than the tube 64. The sleeve 64 is threaded in the block 54, and its position is determined by a lock nut 66. The rod 65 is threaded in the sleeve 64 and its position with respect to the sleeve is fixed by a nut 6! clamping an electrical connector 68 to the rod and sleeve. A shell electrode 69 is threaded in the fibre block 54 and projects into the intersection of the passages 55 and 56 formed in the block so as to be in opposed and relatively widely spaced relation to the sleeve 64 of the compound electrode 63. The position of the sleeve 69 in the block 54 is fixed by a lock nut 79. An electrical connector H is held clamped on the shell electrode 69 between the nut 10 and a nut 12. An insulating sleeve 13 is threaded in the shell electrode 69, and a rod electrode 14 is threaded in the insulating sleeve 13. The rod electrode projects into the intersection of the passages 55 and 56 formed in the block 54 somewhat beyond the shell electrode 69 and extends into opposed and relatively closely spaced relation to the rod 65 of the compound electrode 63. A nut 15 clamps an electrical connector 16 on the rod electrode 14 against the end of the insulating sleeve 13.

A conductor 11 may lead from the electrical connector 68 attached to the compound electrode 63 to a ground 18. A conductor 19 may lead from the electrical connector 16 attached to the rod electrode 14 to a connection point 80. A conductor 8! may lead from the connection point 89 to a spark plug l3, which may be grounded as indicated at 82. A conductor 83 may lead from the connection point 89 to a contact 84 of a distributor 65 to a rotatable distributor arm 86 shown in engagement with the contact 84. The distributor arm may be connected to a conductor 8! such as may lead to an output terminal 88 of a power supply 92. The ground terminal 94 of the power supply may be connected through a junction point 89 to the ground 9| by a conductor as at 99. An available voltage from supply 92, that is, the potential difference between terminals 88 and 94, may be expected of the order of 3,000 to 6,000 volts; this voltage may be impressed across the provided capacitor 95. Another capacitor 96 may be connected at an intermediate terminal 93 of the supply 92 to ground so as to avail of a portion of the voltage offered. A conductor 91 may lead also from the intermediate terminal 93, and terminate in a variable rheostat 98 which may be connected by a conductor 99 to the connector H attached to the shell elec trode 69.

It will be seen that the potential between the rod electrode 14 and the compound electrode 63 is the same as that across the spark plug [3, which is equal to that available at the power supply 88, i. e., 3,000 to 6,000 volts. Let it be assumed that the engine of which one cylinder and its associated parts are shown in Fig. 1 has four cylinders, and that their firing order is 1-3-24 as indicated by the row of spark plugs l3 illustrated digrammatically in Fig. 3. This firing order for the spark plugs is insured by the distributor 85, the contacts 84 thereof being connected with the appropriate spark plugs. The numeral I, 2, 3, or 4. associated with each contact 84 and not in parenthesis is the contact for the spark plug designated by the numeral. The numerals in parenthesis at the contacts 84 designate the structures shown in detail in Fig. 2 and associated with the various cylinders. Each such structure will now be called the fuel injection discharger and will be designated by the reference character I09. Consider now that the spark plug [3 for cylinder No. l is being fired as the position of the distributor arm 86 in Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate. The spark plug for this cylinder is fired because the voltage originating at supply 92 is impressed upon the spark plug. At this time the same voltage exists between the central electrode 14 and the compound electrode 63 of the fuel injection discharger for cylinder No. 3. These electrodes are in a supply of fuel passing continuously from the fuel supply tank 58 through the conduit 63, the pump 62, the conduit 69, the passage 55 in the fibre block 54, and the conduit 51 back to the fuel supply tank 58. An electrical discharge occurs between the rod electrode 14 and the rod of the compound electrode 63 which are relatively closely spaced and this initiates an electrical spark discharge between the shell electrode 69 and the sleeve 64 of the compound electrode 63 which are relatively widely spaced. The adjustable rheostat 98 serves to vary the rate of discharge between the shell electrode 69 and the compound electrode 63. The electrical discharge occurring between the shell electrode 69 and the sleeve 64 of the compound electrode 63 acts upon the liquid fuel, perhaps by a partial cracking thereof into gaseous or other products to increase the pressure of the fuel very considerably. If the coil spring 48 causing the nozzle valve 44 to hold the nozzle sleeve 4| closed is appropriately regulated, the increased pressure, constrained locally by inherent fluid inertia, acting on an increment of relatively unresisting fuel will be sufiicient to make the nozzle valve open the valve sleeve and discharge fluid through the nozzle into cylinder No. 3. The spacing between the shell electrode 69 and the sleeve 64 of the compound electrode 63 and the rate of discharge across these electrodes as determined by the adjustment of the rheostat 98 determines the extent of increase in pressure of the liquid fuel and accordingly the amount of fuel discharged. The evanescent increase in pressure lasts only long enough for the required injection of fuel through the nozzle 46 into the engine cylinder. A great portion of any gaseous products formed by the electrical discharge are injected into the engine cylinder with great advantage for these gaseous products are very satisfactory as a fuel. The continuous circulation of the fuel from the supply tank through the pump and through the block 54 and back to the supply tank causes any gaseous products 5 not injected in the engine cylinderflandzsolid residue to be carried off through the conduit 57'! and thereby scavenges the space between the electrodes for conditioning forithenext electrical discharge; The voltage between the shell electrode 69 andthe sleeve 64 oflthe compound electrode 63 exists at all times since aswis evident from Figs. 2 and 3 the shell electrode 69 is independent of the distributor '85. However, this voltage is low enough-and'the spacing between the shell electrode 69 and the sleeve 64 of the compound electrode '63 is great enough that an electrical discharge between the shell electrode and the sleeve cannot occur without an electrical discharge between the rod electrode '14 and the rod of the compound electrode 63.

As previously stated, spark plug No. 1is fired at the same time as the electrical discharge is effected in the No. 3 fuel injection discharger. Discharge of the No. 3 apparatus produces injection of fuel in the No. 3 cylinder and thereafter the No. 3 spark plug is fired. At this time, as indicated by Fig. 3, the No. 2 fuel injection 'discharger is being fired and causes the injection of fuel in No. 2 cylinder. Thereafter the No. 2 spark plug fires and at this time the No. 4 fuel injector operates. Thereafter the No. 4 spark plug fires and at this time the No. 1 fuel injector operates. Then the cycle is repeated.

The fuel injection system of the present invention has been shown as applied'to an engine of the type in which ignition is effected by spark plugs. The present fuel injection system is of great advantage when employed with spark plug ignition because the electrical systems of the two may be combined and common parts may be used,

for example, the distributor and the magneto.

However, it is to be understood that a fuel injection system of the present invention is not limited to use with engines having spark plug ignition, but may be just as well applied to engines, for example, of the diesel type having compression-ignition. The invention may also be applied in the injection of fuel in an engine manifold. It is also to be stated at this point that thepresent invention is not limited in its use to fuel injection for an engine but is particularly applicable to other installations wherever discharge of a liquid may be employed.

As previously stated, one result of theinjection by electrical discharge in a'liquid-fuel is the cracking of the fuel. If the fuel is gasoline, the gaseous products along with the liquid products areinjected in the engine. Both liquid and gaseous-productsmay have higher octane rating, because the residue formed as the result of the cracking is carbon. Thus it is clear that the gasoline resulting from the cracking hashad some of its carbon removed and in effect, its hydrogen increased. This may mean a higher octane rating. With the cracking and injecting of the fuel carried on together, there is no substantial loss of gaseous products normally resulting from cracking.

Mention should be made of thecapacitors 95 and 96. As to sizeand rating, capacitor 95 may be said to be characterized by moderate charge storing size along with ability to withstand a relatively high voltage, while'96 may be said to serve under relatively lower voltageconditions at which an extensive charge is desirably held. These capacitors store electrical energy over a comparatively long period of time, i. e.', between "discharges of each device I00, and dischargesin a comparatively. short period of time, the time in which :each device 400 is fired. it is believed that the long time for storing-and the short time for discharge combine to produceahigh pressure of liquidfuel .in the chamber of the device 109, for the longtime for storing of energy in the capacitors results in relatively large amount of total energy stored and a short time for dis.- charge increases the effectiveness of the energy released.

The intention is to limit the invention only within-the scope and spirit of the appended claims. -.We claim:

1. .An .electrode device including a fibre block having a space within the central portion and an opening extending from the outside of the block to the space therein, a first electrode threadablymounted in the block and positionably projecting into the space at one side thereof opposite the opening, and an electrode assembly comprising a threaded sleevethreadably extending through the opening and constituting a second electrode for adjacent cooperation with the first electrode, an insulating sleeve positioned in the threaded sleeve and having an outer portion extending beyond the threaded sleeve, a .third electrode positioned in the insulatin sleeve and having an inner end portionextending inwardly beyond said threaded sleeve in operative proximity to the positionable first electrode, and an outer threaded end projectingoutwardly of the block beyond said outer portion of the insulating sleeve, a connector having an opening in its centralportion receiving theouter end of the third electrode anda face abutting said outer portion of the insulating sleeve,.and a nut on the outer end' of the third electrode and backed against the connector and inturn against the sleeve for clamping the-connector therebetween, the components of the electrode assembly being proportioned relativeto said block so as to be removable and insertable-as a unit i 2. Apparatus for discharging liquid fuel from a chamber comprising a pair of widely spaced electrodes extending into said chamber, a pair of closely spaced electrodes extending into said chamber, at least two electrodes from different pairs being telescopically arranged one within the other, means including an electric circuit for constantly energizing said widely spaced electrodes to create an'electrostatic field therebetween, and means including an electric circuit intermittently energizing said closely spaced electrodes to effect an arcin the mass of fuel therebetween and to produce an arc sustaining path between-said widely spaced electrodes for initiating an arcbetween said widely spaced electrodes.

3. Apparatusfor discharging liquid fuel from a chamber including a compound electrode comprising a sleeve and a rod fitting in the sleeve in electrical contact therewith and projecting beyond one end of the sleeve, a shell electrode facing the compound electrode with one end relatively widely, spaced'from the said one end of the sleeve, a rod electrode positioned in the shell electrode in spaced relation thereto and projecting beyond the said one and thereof in closely spaced relation to the rod, all the electrodes being in the fuel, means including an electric circuit for constantly energizing said sleeve and shell electrodes to create an electrostatic field therebetween and facilitate arcing between said-rod and rod electrode, and means including an electric circuit recurrently energizing said rod and rod electrode to effect an arc in :the mass of fueltherebetweenand to produce an are sustaining path between said sleeve and shell electrode, for initiating an are between said sleeve and shell electrode.

4. Apparatus for discharging liquid fuel from a chamber including a pair of widely spaced electrodes extending into said chamber, a pair of closely spaced electrodes extending into said chamber at a location adjacent said widely spaced electrodes, at least electrodes from different pairs being telescopically arranged one within the other such that the respective widely and closely spaced gaps have a common portion, a first circuit having relatively large capacity for impressing across the widely spaced electrodes a relatively low voltage, a second circuit having relatively small capacity for impressing across the closely spaced electrodes a relatively high voltage for producing an electrical discharge in the mass of fuel between the closely spaced electrodes and an accompanying path to cause the relatively low voltage to effect a large energy discharge between the widely spaced electrodes.

5. Apparatus for discharging liquid fuel from a chamber comprising pairs of closely spaced and widely spaced electrodes extending into said chamber, and having electrodes from different pairs telescopically arranged within one another such that the respective closely spaced and widely spaced gaps have a common portion and capacitance means having a continuously charging source of power and having circuit means for effecting connection therefrom to said electrode pairs for energizing the latter, said capacitance circuit means including a distributor for so effecting circuit establishment at recurrent intervals as to permit the charging and storing of electric energy in the capacitance means over a relatively long period of time and the discharging of the stored electrical energy in the mass of fuel between said electrode pairs in a relatively short period of time to obtain maximum effectiveness of the electrical energy released.

6. Apparatus for discharging liquid fuel from a chamber comprising pairs of closely spaced and widely spaced electrodes extending in mutual adjacency into said chamber and having electrodes from diiferent pairs arranged telescopically one within the other such that the closely spaced and widely spaced gaps have a common portion in the mass of liquid fuel, a capacitor having first circuit means for effecting connection of the closely spaced electrodes therewith, and a capacitor having second circuit means for effecting connection of the widely spaced electrodes therewith, the capacitors having a continuously operating source of charging power and being adapted to store electrical energy over relatively long periods of time and to discharge energy across the electrodes in relatively short periods of time, said first circuit means including a switch for establishing the first circuit at intervals corresponding to the relatively long periods to initiate the relatively short period of discharge of electrical energy across the closely spaced electrodes, electrical discharge across the closely spaced electrodes producing an arc sustaining path in said gap common portion in the fuel between said adjacent widely spaced electrodes to initiate electrical discharge across the widely spaced electrodes.

'7. Apparatus for discharging normally electrically non-conductive liquid fuel from a chamber including first electrode means extending into the fuel of said chamber and arranged to provide a relatively wide spark gap, second electrode means extending into the fuel of said chamber and arranged to provide a relatively narrow spark gap, an electrode from said first electrode means and an electrode from said second electrode means being mutually telescopically arranged one within the other such that the narrow and wide gaps have a common portion in said fuel, a circuit having relatively large capacity for impressing across said wide spark gap a relatively low voltage, a second circuit having relatively small capacity for impressing across said narrow spark gap a relatively high voltage for producing an electrical discharge through the liquid fuel in said narrow gap and an accompanying path in said common gap portion across said wide, spark gap to cause the relatively low voltage to effect a large energy discharge through said wide spark gap.

8. An electrical circuit for injecting and igniting liquid fuel comprising a fuel injection means including an electrode set within a contained mass of the liquid fuel including a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode comprising concentrically arranged, spaced, outer and inner electrode members, a source of electrical energy having first and second circuit branches, said first branch including a capacitor connected to the outer electrode member for continuously impressing a relatively low voltage between the outer electrode member and the first electrode, said second branch including a second capacitor connected to the inner electrode member for impressing a relatively high voltage between the first electrode and the inner electrode member, a fuel ignition means comprising a spark plug, and circuit means connecting said spark plug to said second branch and arranged to divide the charge of the second capacitor between the spark plug and the outer electrode member respectively.

9. An electrical circuit for injecting and igniting liquid fuel comprising a fuel injection means including an electrode set within a contained mass of the liquid fuel including a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode comprising concentrically arranged, spaced, outer and inner electrode members, a source of electrical energy having first and second circuit branches, said first branch including a capacitor connected to the outer electrode member for continuously impressing a relatively low voltage between the outer electrode member and the first electrode, said second branch including a capacitor connected to the inner electrode member for impressing a relatively high voltage between the first electrode and the inner electrode member, and a fuel ignition means connected to the second circuit branch comprising a spark plug arranged in series with said high voltage capacitor, and a make and break circuit control means in said second circuit branch for controlling discharge of the said second electrode and said spark plug.

10. An electrical circuit for injecting and igniting liquid fuel comprising a fuel injection means including an electrode set Within a contained mass of the liquid fuel, including a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode comprising telescopically arranged, spaced, outer and inner electrode memhere, a source of electrical energy, a first capacitor connected to said source of electrical energy and to the outer electrode member for continuously impressing a relatively low voltage between the outer electrode member and the first electrode, circuit means including a second capacitor connecting the source of electrical energy to the inner electrode member for impressing a relatively high voltage between the inner electrode member and the first electrode, and a fuel ignition means including a spark plug connected to said source of electrical energy through said second capacitor.

11. An electrical circuit for injecting and igniting liquid fuel comprising a fuel injection means including an electrode set within a contained mass of the liquid fuel including a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode comprising concentrically arranged, spaced, outer and inner electrode members, a source of electrical energy, a first capacitor connected to said source of electrical ener y and to the outer electrode member for continuously impressing tween the outer electrode member and the first electrode, circuit means including a second capacitor connecting the source of electrical energy to the inner electrode member for impressing a relatively high voltage between the inner electrode member and the first electrode, a fuel ignition means including a spark plug connected to said source of electrical energy through said second capacitor, and a make and break circuit control means connected between said source of electrical energy and said spark plug and said inner electrode member to control discharge of said spark plug and said second electrode.

12. An electrical circuit for injecting and igniting fuel in mg a fuel injection means for each chamber including an electrode set mounted in a contained mass of the liquid fuel including a first electrode,

a relatively low voltage bea plurality of chambers comprisa second electrode spaced from the first electrode comprising telescopically arranged, spaced, outer and inner electrode members, a first capacitor, means connecting the first capacitor to each of the outer electrode members, a source of charging power for the first capacitor for continuously impressing a relatively low voltage between the outer electrode member and the first electrode of each set, a second capacitor, circuit means connecting the second capacitor to said source of charging power and to the inner electrode member of each set to impress a relatively high voltage between each inner electrode member and each first electrode, a fuel injection means for each chamber comprising a spark plug, branch circuit means connecting each spark plug to the circuit means to divide the charge of the second capacitor between the inner electrode member and the spark plug, and make and break circuit control means associated with the said circuit means arranged to simultaneously efiect ignition of the fuel in one chamber while effecting fuel injection in another chamber.

LOREN CLIFFORD SACKE'IT.

JOHN R. MILLER.

REUBEN W. KELTO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

